Exclusive Asian Television Premiere of Star Studded Food and Travel Series Only on AFC

Manila - What happens when a dream team of four gets together for a road trip across Spain? The results are nothing short of spectacular when it’s Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow, acclaimed chef Mario Batali, New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols driving across the country. ‘Spain… On the Road Again’, a visually stunning 13-part food and travel series is a rollicking ride as the foursome eat, drink and cook through 30 Spanish cities. This brand new television series airs for the first time in Asia, exclusively on the Asian Food Channel (AFC) every Tuesday at 9 PM.

Said Maria Brown, Managing Director, Acquisitions & Programming, AFC: ‘We have been monitoring this series since it was an idea on paper and we are extremely proud to have secured ‘Spain…On the Road Again’ exclusively for Asia. With a winning formula of celebrity chefs and internationally acclaimed food writers set against the stunning backdrop of Spain, we knew it would be a visual feast for AFC viewers.’From Andalucia to Zaragoza, the exploits of the star-studded cast will thrill armchair travelers and avid foodies alike. The food-and-wine obsessed men are on a constant lookout for their next great meal and often cede to the foodie women’s agenda to indulge in Spain’s other cultural pleasures from its museums, shopping and music to its spas and nightlife. What ensues is an unscripted culinary adventure complete with all the playful dynamics of male-female compatibility.

The cast of characters at the table each has a personal connection to the country. Pals Paltrow and Batali had spent part of their younger years in Spain, where they both fell in love with the place and learned, in Batali’s words, ‘how to eat and drink’ there. Bittman, who also stars in another show on AFC, ‘Best Recipes in the World’, draws on his gastronomic expertise and his previous excursions to Spain to enrich everyone’s ‘foodie’ knowledge. And, Spanish native Claudia Bassols rounds up the team and does her best to keep the three Americans in check throughout the trip through her homeland.

Cameo appearances by celebrated architect of the Guggenheim Bilbao, Frank Gehry and lead vocalist of rock band, R.E.M, Michael Stipe spice up the group’s exploration of the history, architecture and culture of Spain. To top it off, the series’ theme song is a catchy version of multi Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Willie Nelson’s trademark, ‘On the Road Again’.

The Asian Food Channel (AFC) is the region’s only 24-hour food channel dedicated to airing the best food and lifestyle programming from around the region and around the world. Based in Singapore, AFC’s wide Asian distribution footprint covers seven territories and 15 million viewers, on basic tiers of all the major pay TV platforms across Southeast Asia.

The channel leads the ratings in its territories, regularly achieving the #1 lifestyle channel in terms of popularity and loyalty. It has achieved a broad following from young teenage food lovers and empty nesters to trendy urban females and aspiring male chefs. Its online presence supports the channel with program information, recipes, content and an e-commerce store. As such AFC regularly executes 360 degree advertising and marketing campaigns and solutions for leading FMCG, Financial and Travel brands.AFC broadcasts on: